“You’ve reached your YouTube upload limit” – What it means and what to do

If you’re seeing an error like:

“The user has exceeded the number of videos they may upload.”

don’t worry – you didn’t do anything “wrong.” This message comes from YouTube, not from Viraly. It simply means your YouTube channel has hit YouTube’s daily upload limit. The limit resets on its own after a while.

Quick answer

• What happened? Your channel uploaded as many videos as YouTube allows in a rolling 24-hour period.
• How long until I can upload again? Usually within 24 hours from when the limit was reached.
• Can Viraly or you lift it? No. This is a YouTube rule that applies no matter where you upload (YouTube website, app, or via API).
• Will my scheduled posts be lost? No – see how Viraly handles this below.

Why does YouTube have an upload limit?

YouTube sets daily caps to reduce spam and protect the platform. The exact number is not fixed and can vary by channel history and account standing. Newer or unverified channels often have a lower limit; more established/verified channels generally get a higher one.

What you can do right now

1. Wait for the reset. Try again after the 24-hour window passes.
2. Leave the post in Viraly. We’ll keep it on the Scheduler in “Publishing Failed” state. If it fails due to the limit, you can retry later without recreating or editing the post.
3. Spread out uploads. If you’re posting many videos, schedule them across multiple days.
4. Verify your YouTube channel (if you haven’t already). Phone verification can improve your account standing.
5. Keep your channel in good standing. Avoid policy strikes; they can reduce your effective limits.

Good practices to avoid hitting the limit again

• Batch smartly: Instead of 10 videos at once, try 2-3 per day over several days.
• Verify the channel: Phone verification helps unlock higher trust signals.
• Mind mixed sources: Uploads from anywhere (YouTube web, mobile, other tools) count toward the same limit.

FAQs

Is this a Viraly problem?
No. The error is returned directly by YouTube and applies to all upload methods.

Does deleting a video free up my limit?
No. The limit counts uploads, not how many videos you have afterward.

Can you tell me the exact number of videos I’m allowed per day?
YouTube doesn’t publish a single fixed number. It varies by channel history and standing.

Will retrying immediately help?
If the limit was just hit, immediate retries will fail again. Wait until enough time has passed (typically up to 24 hours).

Does this affect only API uploads?
No. The same limit applies whether you upload via YouTube directly or through any third-party tool.

Brand account vs personal account – does it matter?
Both can hit limits. What matters more is verification, history, and channel standing.

When to contact support

• You’ve waited over 24 hours and still get the same error.
• Your channel is verified, has no strikes, you spaced uploads reasonably, and it still happens repeatedly.

We’re happy to review your posting pattern and help you set a schedule that stays comfortably under YouTube’s cap.